Attack knocks off Blue Mtn.

Saturday

Jul 28, 2007 at 6:34 AMJul 28, 2007 at 6:39 AM

By John DoyleStaff Sports Writer

CONCORD — The Dover Attack Babe Ruth softball team knows that scoring three runs in a game probably won't get it too far in the New England Regional U-14 tournament. But a 3-0 opening-round win — in which no runs were batted in — suited them just fine on Friday.

The Attack drew a dozen walks and ran the bases effectively to shut out Blue Mountain of the Ammonoosuc Valley Softball League, based out of Littleton. Dover (1-0) now advances in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament and was scheduled to play Lynn, Mass., this morning at 8. Blue Mountain (0-1) has a noon loser's bracket game against Lyndonville, Vt.

Dover's pitchers effectively kept Blue Mountain at bay with a pair of stellar performances. Katelyn Malsbury got the win by pitching the first four innings, during which she rang up four strikeouts and retired the side in order in the second and third. She was close to perfect through the first three, as a one-out single by Blue Mountain's Emily Darling (2 for 3) was rendered moot as Malsbury got the next batter to hit into a double-play line-out at shortstop.

"Pitching and defense were the key today," Dover coach Gary Johns said. "Our defense is air-tight. As for offense, we're still waiting on the bats."

With her team clinging tenaciously to a 2-0 lead, Malsbury allowed the first two batters to reach in the fourth. Nikki Zanbon led off with a double and Darling followed with a single. Darling stole second, putting both runners in scoring position with no one out. But Malsbury calmly retired the next three batters on a grounder, a pop fly and a fly ball.

"I just kind of like relaxed, and took a breather," Malsbury said. "I've got a good defense behind me, and they make me feel confident."

Dover left the bases loaded in the first and second innings, and stranded 12 total runners.

Malsbury was relieved by Taylor McFadden in the fifth inning. McFadden went right to work, retiring the first six batters she faced, including three strikeouts. She ran into a little trouble in the seventh, when she allowed a leadoff single to Natalie Page, who was eventually called out on the base paths.

McFadden then issued consecutive walks to Cassandra Wallace and Karley Hamilton, the only two Blue Mountain players to draw walks all afternoon. McFadden then buckled down and fanned the final Blue Mountain batter, Fantasia Darling, on a called third strike.

"I was just trying to keep it in the zone and throwing on the corners," McFadden said. "I stayed calm. I was trying to throw (Fantasia Darling) outside."

Dover managed just three hits for the game, and got its first run in the top of the first inning. Jenny MacArthur (who drew four walks in four at-bats) reached on a walk (naturally), stole second and reached home on two errors, the only two errors Blue Mountain committed all afternoon.

"I like to hit, but she just wasn't throwing my pitch," MacArthur said. "I was happy to get on base, but we need to not leave as many people on base. That's basically it. We need more runs."

In the third, Amanda Towne drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Malsbury and scored on an illegal pitch — softball's version of a balk — by Blue Mountain's Wallace.

"We were definitely off our game today," Blue Mountain assistant coach Ed White said. "Our girls are tired from the drive down, and Dover's a good team."

Dover got its third run in the sixth. Shelby Rowe walked, stole second, and reached home on two wild pitches.